Local Lib Dems slam Labour hypocrisy over Post Offices

7.01.18pm GMT Tue 30th Oct 2007

Labour are wholly responsible for the closures

Leading local Liberal Democrats have attacked Labour's "brazen hypocrisy" over proposed Post Office closures.

The proposals announced today could see both of Splott's Post Offices and many other across the region closed in 2008.

Splott Liberal Democrat Councillor Gavin Cox said: "Labour have been running around claiming that they are against these closures in Splott, but it is obvious that they are entirely to blame for this situation.

"The Government has forced the Post Office in to this position. They have spent the last few years taking away essential Government business such as TV Licensing.

"We always hear from Labour that the Post Office network is not profitable, but last year the total value of Government services they withdrew was £168 million. Post Office Ltd's total shortfall was only £111 million.

"If Labour had not withdrawn this business, they would have been in profit."

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Cardiff South and Penarth, Dominic Hannigan added: "These figures show the extent of Labour's hypocrisy. Instead of running around pretending they are against these closures, perhaps their time would be better spent convincing their own party to support and invest in the Post Office network, rather than running it down and forcing branches to close.

"This is hypocrisy taken to a new level."